Takhar-Lail and Ghorbani, (2015) cited that the application the appropriate process of the research methodology assist in revealing the detail concepts and theories of the undertaken topic. In addition to that, Finseth et al., (2014) claimed that the detailed process of the research methodology assists in gaining underlying facts and data relevant to the study.
4.2. Analysis of the problem
The process followed for carrying out the logistics operations at Toll Global Express are currently facing various issues and challenges for meeting up with the customer satisfaction while sustaining in the competitive market. The implementations of advanced technologies like the GPS system have the potential to improve the operational efficiency at TGE.
4.3. Research Paradigm- Interpretative
According to Terrell (2012), the application of the theoretical and philosophical framework for implementing the different laws, procedures for conducting the research is defined as a research paradigm. On a contrary, Finley (2014) showed that the research paradigm comprises of the different agreement and beliefs used by the researchers for addressing the research problems in an undertaken study. The three significant dimensions of the paradigm are methodology, epistemology, and ontology.
On the other hand, Vannini (2015) showed that three distinct philosophies could be characterized in research paradigm namely critical postmodernism, constructive interpretive and positivism.
In this particular study, the analysts have selected the application of the constructive interpretive research paradigm. The application of the interpretive paradigm has allowed the analyst in evaluating the undertaken topic with conceptual and social understanding. In addition to that, the interpretivist paradigm has provided in analyzing the topic while evaluating the previous studies and ideas of previous research. In addition to that, the applications of the qualitative methods like interviews, case study and observation have provided better analysis of the undertaken topic.
Research Design: Nayar and Stanley (2014) defined that the research design explains the pattern and framework required for collecting and evaluating the data relevant to the undertaken topic. Due to the cross-sectional characteristic of the undertaken study, the analysts have selected Descriptive Design. The application of the descriptive design allowed in gaining relevant information of the particular events with a detailed description.
4.6. Development of Study Categories
In this present study, the author has selected the application of mixed category comprising qualitative and qualitative methods for evaluating the various obstacle that impacts the effectiveness of integrating GPS in Toll Global Express.
4.7. Data Collection and Analysis
4.7.1. Selection Criteria for data analysis techniques
For the data analysis of the selected research topic, the author has selected the use of secondary data sources for obtaining and evaluating the “Obstacle in Logistics that Impacts the Effectiveness of GPS Technology in Managing Logistic Operation in Toll Global Express”. The application of the qualitative data assist the author in reviewing and analyzing the statistical data obtained by the various researcher prior to this particular study. Moreover, through the use of secondary data, the author has conducted a qualitative analysis through the acknowledgement of the various issues related to the implementation of the GPS technology in Toll Global Express. In addition to that, the use of the secondary data helps the analysist in interpreting the result according to the need of the author. In this particular study, the author has collected relevant data and information from open sources including books, journals and paper on the similar topic of the current research.
Higginbottom, and Liamputtong, (2015) pointed out that the content analysis can be roughly divided in to three major categories namely summative, directive and conventional. All the process of content analysis assist in evaluating the textual data from a predominant paradigm. In this particular study, the author has utilized the “Directed Content Analysis”. The application of the directed content analysis has assisted the author in conceptually extended the theory and validate the conceptual framework from the existing theory. Since, this particular study is limited to the application of the secondary data, the author has rejected the use of summative or conventional content analysis process.
The secondary data that the author has obtained in the study was gathered by other authors in different purpose and time that might not be relevant to the study. There is a great possibility of duplication, compensation and omission in the previous data. In this particular study, for eliminating unsuitability, inadequacy, inconsistency and inaccuracy the author has performed the test on reliability, adequacy and suitability while verifying the source of data.
In this particular study, the author has rejected the secondary sources of data with improper measuring unit and question on the validity. In addition to that, for ensuring the proper and standard evaluation of the undertaken topic the author has considered the recent journal not exceeding before 2012. Furthermore, the author has evaluated the chance of bias in the previous journals and rejected the data with unbiased analysis.
Popovic, and Habjan, (2012) pointed out that the implementation of the GPS technology in the logistics operations helps in increasing the efficiency of the management and business. Amna, (2013) claimed that the impact of the GPS technology has immeasurable impact on the logistics operations. Furthermore, Gupta, Mukerjee, and Singh, (2013) cited that the implementation of the GPS technology helps in improving the effectiveness of the business for meeting the requirements of the customers. The various effectiveness of the GPS technology for improving the operational management at Toll Global Services are discussed bellow.
Fleet Management: Munuzuri et al., (2012) cited that fleet of vehicles are the significant channel of operations in logistics. The GPS technology helps in tracking the location of the trucks in real time. Wang, (2012) claimed that the application of the GPS technology assist the business in having essential information about the delivery of the products, delivery time estimation up to dated. Zhang, Fang, and Huang (2014) explained that the continuous updating of the information about the location of the trucks and packages helps in having better control over and tremendous advantage in the competitive market. Through this the logistics service providers ensure complete monitoring the speed and location of the vehicles. In addition to that the GPS technology assist in tracking and monitoring of the fleet in an unobtrusive manner. Furthermore, Greiner, (2015) cited that fleet management also helps in accommodating any business requirements or delivery with minimum cost and effort.
Cost-Benefit Assessment: McNamara, Linton, and Mikhail, (2014) have explained in this paper that the tracking of the fleet in the logistics operations helps in improving the profitability of the business. The expense of the fuel is related and unavoidable with the logistics business. According to Jhawar, and Garg, (2016), the GPS technology along with fleet tracking facility helps in optimizing the cost of the fuel expenses. Li, and Huo, (2016) showed that the along with GPS technology, the business operatives can monitor the fleet on route required for delivering the packages only. Furthermore, the GPS technology helps in providing the shortest route to deliver the packages to a selected location thus reducing the cost of transportation. De Cantis et al., (2016) claimed that with the application of the GPS technology the company can monitor the drivers on the selected route only while checking the fuel cost.
Improved Efficiency: The GPS technology automatically generates huge amount of data providing the accurate location and position of the fleet delivering the packages. Prasanna, and Hemalatha, (2012) explained that the data generated through the GPS technology is accurate to the position of the fleet. In addition to that, the integration of the GPS technology with the computer of the vehicle provided various possibility in increasing the efficiency of operational management. According to Klumpp, Clausen, and ten Hompel, (2013), the real-time information about the position of the vehicle allows the logistics provided in acknowledging the progress of the delivery. Moreover, the GPS technology provides the driver with the accurate route and shortest path for all the packages in the particular route. Therefore, the GPS technology significantly reduces the time for efficiently delivering the packages to the right location at right time. Xu, Deng, and Ren, (2014) pointed out that the with the application of the GPS technology it becomes easier to track the any particular vehicle. Therefore, recovery of the stolen or damages vehicle in logistics is made easier with the GPS.
Enhanced Customer Satisfaction: Radoicic et al., (2013) cited that the enhancing the customer satisfaction is the key for achieving success in the logistics operations. The integration o the GPS technology allows the customer in providing real time information about the delivery of their packages. Nikolaenko, and Shugaley, (2014) showed that the through the GPS technology, the logistics service providers allows transparency in their operations. On the other hand, Fernando, and Samarasekera, (2016) claimed that the GPS updated the customer with the real-time location of the packages. Any delay of early delivery of the packages are automatically updated to the customers. Kithiia, (2015) stated that the continuous information about the packages provided the customer with estimated delivery thus enhancing the satisfaction with the services.
The existing logistics system of the Toll Global Services, cannot effectively track the real-time location of the operations with manual monitoring of the operational (Ivanova, and Gallasch, (2015). Hence it can be easily observed that the absence of effective tracking reduces the control over the system. Popovic, and Habjan, (2012) have stated that the absence of effective tracking mechanism reduces the real-time information about the up-streaming operation that is being carried out at the site, according to which the transportation can be planned which can effectively reduce the time and the cost of transit. In the similar situation Amna, (2013) have also presented a similar view regarding the down streaming of the packages where the transit time between the main delivery system and the staffs lacks co-ordination due to which a great amount of time is wasted for delivering the materials.
Gupta, Mukerjee, and Singh, (2013) state that the present system of taking a consignment and delivering to its destination suffers various operational constraints which make the process costlier. The packages are sent to the destination using various means which are rail, road, air and water. For this purpose, the sorting has to be done in a time efficient manner. According to Wang, (2012) the effective sorting strategies waste a huge time is wasted due to lack of coordination and information among them. A similar thought is shared by Zhang, Fang, and Huang, (2014) who state that, the lack of implementation of modern technology in goods transit system has kept the system blind as real time data is hardly obtained, which affects the visibility of the system, which in turn affects the services of the organization.
In order to maintain the competitive advantage in the market, the Toll Global Express has engaged in the implementation of GPS technology in their logistics. With the change in a technological factor, the customers have high expectations in terms of quality and effectiveness of the services. The GPS technology provides the distributors, suppliers, and customer with the visibility and accountability of the services provided by TGE. The efficiency of the operations at TGE is dependent on the time needed by the employees to gather information about an item. Furthermore, the operations efficiency also includes sending the item to the required destination within allocated time. The integration of the GPS technology will allow the TGE employee to have complete control over the transit of the item. The real-time monitoring and control over the transit assist in improving the operation efficiency in the logistics of TGE.
In addition to that, the GPS services will allow the employees with the continuous update about the item location that will allow the employees to remain up to date and improve the working efficiency. The logistics operations at TGE are focused on proving visualization and transparency in the transit process to its customers. The implementation of the GPS technology will allow the customer and employees to view the particulars of the items that have been delivering through TGE. In the existing procedure of operations, the employees need to outsource the data and maintain continuous collaboration with the suppliers for updating with the location of the items. Toll Global Service requires better planning, management and faster shipping of the items for gaining competitive advantage. The GPS technology provides execution system, data collection, and visibility of the data and effective record of the possible changes in the items that help in reducing the operation cost considering the long-term business.
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